Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping high-achieving women heal from narcissistic abuse, trauma bonding, antagonistic relationships, burnout, divorce, and the overwhelming reality of parenting while recovering from relational trauma. She specializes in working with midlife mothers who feel emotionally exhausted, confused, and destabilized while trying to protect their children and rebuild their lives after toxic relationships.
Dr. Edwards-Hawver earned her B.S. with distinction from Cornell University, completed her doctoral training at Wright State University, and her APA-accredited internship at Penn State University. She is licensed in Pennsylvania and practices across state lines through PSYPACT, providing telehealth services to women navigating complex divorces, post-separation abuse, and parallel parenting with narcissistic or antagonistic partners.
Her clinical focus includes trauma bonding, gaslighting, nervous system exhaustion, narcissistic burnout, post-separation abuse, and the impossible position mothers face when trying to heal while co-parenting or parallel parenting with a toxic ex. She works with intelligent, capable women who can excel professionally yet feel trapped, doubting themselves, and unable to understand why leaving feels so impossible.
What sets Dr. Cynthia’s work apart is her refusal to offer oversimplified advice. She does not minimize how hard this is. She understands that burnout—not weakness—keeps women stuck, that trauma bonding alters decision-making, and that traditional relationship advice does not apply when narcissism and emotional abuse are present.
She is the host of The Mama Shrink Podcast, where she discusses parenting, mental health, physical health, and the realities of healing while raising children in the midst of high-conflict relationships. She is currently writing her first book on healing from narcissistic burnout and rebuilding life at midlife while parenting through it.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Cynthia is building an educational platform that includes a YouTube channel, online courses, a healing membership community, and resources for mothers navigating narcissistic relationships, divorce, and generational trauma while trying to create safety for their children and themselves.
Her work is grounded in decades of clinical experience, rigorous training, and lived understanding of what it takes to recover from relational trauma while embracing her new life as a single mom.